Quake is a thematic experience that allows modern visitors to see and feel the Great Lisbon Earthquake. It is an invitation to explore the impact of the 1755 Earthquake on Lisbon, the Age of Enlightenment, and the science behind seismic events.
The experience spans approximately 90 minutes across nine detailed scenes and takes visitors through the reconstructed streets of 18th-century Lisbon. Each scene integrates story-driven elements, moving beyond a traditional museum format to engage audiences emotionally. The narrative involves interactive moments where visitors follow the instructions of a fictional Professor and search for lost documents, all while confronting the quake’s aftermath and understanding its historical impact.
Quake was awarded for “Outstanding Achievement – Historical Experience, Limited Budget,” highlighting its success in blending historical accuracy with innovative storytelling and sensory effects. This unique approach to combining education with immersive theater and environmental storytelling made it a standout attraction in the themed entertainment industry.
The Quake Lisbon Earthquake Center has also won the prestigious Thea Award from the Themed Entertainment Association for its exceptional immersive experience.
Designed by Jora Vision and brought to life by Belgium creatives Painting With Light, the attraction uses cutting-edge special effects, including mist, smoke, fog, and scent, to create an authentic, multi-sensory, journey to life. These effects, combined with custom lighting, projection mapping, interactive displays, and a motion simulator, allow visitors to feel like they are stepping back in time to “live” the experience.
Painting With Light built the environment from visual conception to schematic design, technical design, project management, and system integration, as well as light, video, and visual programming. SensoryCo worked with Painting With Light to bring specific scents into the scenes.
The earthquake that struck Lisbon in 1755 unleashed a chaotic mixture of smells, creating a sensory backdrop to the devastation. Imagine a bustling city filled with the scent of wine and freshly baked bread. As the quake unfolded, the air filled with the scent of smoke and ash from the fires that ignited while the scent of incense intermingled with the sharp, acrid tang of burning wood and rubble. As buildings collapsed and shifted, the scent of stone dust, shattered ceramics and dislodged earth permeated the air. Nearby, the sea would have contributed its briny, fishy notes as the tsunami waves crashed into the port. Afterward, with decomposing debris and the damp, stale mold odors from flooded buildings, the city must have had a pervasive, haunting scent—a reminder of the disaster’s toll.
SensoryCo delivered two SmXT1, high-intensity, variable output scent systems along with our proprietary scent cartridges that distribute the aromas and odors of wine, freshly baked bread, incense, fish, and burning wood.
The use of scent in the Quake of Lisbon Museum experience adds a powerful layer to the storytelling, making the setting for this historic event more immersive and emotionally resonant. This olfactory dimension deepens engagement, triggering memories and emotions that complement visual and auditory elements. As visitors absorb the sights, sounds, and now smells of this pivotal event, they gain a richer, more nuanced understanding of Lisbon’s past, forging memories long after leaving the museum.